📢 A Recap of Redistricting in the Fredericksburg Area Ahead of Primary Elections 🗳️

Virginia underwent a redistricting process in 2021, and the resulting changes took effect during the November elections last year. 🗺️

According to the Virginia Public Access Project, more than 2.4 million Virginia voters experienced shifts in their districts due to the redistricting process. 🔄

A report by McGuireWoods Consulting in January 2022 revealed that 11 new Senate districts and 23 new House of Delegates districts were created without any incumbent representatives. Under the new alignments, half of Virginia’s senators and nearly half of the state’s delegates were combined with other senators and delegates. Additionally, three members of Congress, including U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D–7th, were drawn out of their districts. 🏛️

Despite these changes, Abigail Spanberger won the redrawn 7th District, which still encompasses Fredericksburg and the counties of Stafford and Spotsylvania. 🗳️👩‍⚖️

As the primary elections approach, it’s important to understand how redistricting has impacted voters in the Fredericksburg area. In Stafford County, the redistricting process resulted in the creation of 10 new precincts, affecting a significant number of residents. Registrar Anna Hash mentioned that nearly everyone in the county is now assigned to a new house and senate district. Approximately 60% of the county’s voters experienced these changes, some of whom were unaware of their new precincts during the November elections. The county registrar hopes that such confusion will occur less frequently in upcoming elections. 📍🔢

Stafford County will have primaries on Tuesday for the county treasurer position, as well as the Republican and Democrat candidates in the 27th and 29th Senate Districts, and the Republican candidates in the 65th House District for the House of Delegates. 🗳️💼

Redistricting in Stafford County has brought several changes, including the inclusion of Quantico in the Griffis–Widewater District, the extension of the Rock Hill district southwards to Poplar Road, and the entire Aquia Harbour subdivision falling within the Aquia district. Moreover, the Falmouth district boundary now extends north towards the Aquia District along Accokeek Creek and Courthouse Road. The George Washington district has expanded west along U.S. 17 to include the Celebrate Virginia community, and the Hartwood district is now entirely located west of Interstate 95. 🌉🏞️

In Spotsylvania County, only 12 out of 29 precincts will have active primaries on Tuesday, specifically in the Chancellor, Courtland, and Salem districts, according to the Spotsylvania Office of Elections. However, the redistricting process has brought significant changes to most of the county’s precincts. Chelsea Leviner, the county’s elections operations administrator, acknowledged the confusion caused by these changes and stated that the office is still receiving calls from voters seeking clarification regarding the new districts. ☎️📞

Prior to redistricting, Spotsylvania County was divided among Senate Districts 4, 17, and 28, as well as House Districts 54, 55, 56, and 88. Now, county residents vote in Senate Districts 25, 27, and 28, along with House Districts 63, 65, and 66. 🏛️🗳️

The city of Fredericksburg has also experienced significant changes due to redistricting. It has transitioned from the 1st Congressional District to the 7th.